Barbapapa: 45th Anniversary of the creation of Barbapapa

Barbapapa is both the title character, and name of the “species” of said character, of a series of children’s books written in the 1970s by Annette Tison and Talus Taylor, who resided in Paris, France. The books were originally written in French (barbe à papa – literally “Daddy’s beard” – is French for cotton candy or candy floss), and were later translated into over 30 languages.

Several European publishers expressed interest in Barbapapa but did not wish to embark on spending the publishing cost. Frank Fehmers Productions, an Agent who later became a publisher, subsequently set up a co-production and the first edition was published in French, by L’École des Loisirs, British English, by Ernest Benn company, and American English by Henry Z. Walck Co. A few years later, when more titles had been published, Fehmers expanded the project to television films in conjunction with Joop Visch of Polyscope-Polygram, with the story boards designed by Taylor. After twelve years, Fehmers and Tison/Taylor discontinued their business relationship.

Background of Barbapapa

The inspiration for Barbapapa came by chance in the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris one day in May 1970. While walking in the park with Annette Tison, Talus Taylor thought he heard a child ask his parents for something called “Baa baa baa baa”. Not speaking French, he asked Tison what the words meant. She explained that the child was asking for a treat called la barbe à papa (cotton candy). Later at a restaurant, the couple began to draw on the tablecloth, and came up with a character inspired by the candy: a pink and round character. When it came to give it a name, Barbapapa came naturally.

Barbapapa Characters

The main characters in the books are the Barbapapa family, who are most notable for their ability to shapeshift at will. In their native form, Barbapapas are blob-shaped, with a distinct head and arms, but no legs. Male Barbapapas have rounder bottoms, whereas female Barbapapas have a more slender form. Each Barbapapa can adopt any form they choose, but they remain easily identifiable by always retaining their faces and their distinctive colour.

Barbapapa himself is a generally papaya-shaped, pink shapeshifting blob-like creature who stumbles upon the human world and tries to fit in. The shapeshifting is usually accompanied by the saying “Clickety Click—Barba Trick”, or in the 1970s British dub “All Change!” (Based on the expression used by the driver on British buses when the bus reaches the end of its route) (in the French version “Hup Hup Hup, Barbatruc”, “Oblajuco, Barbatruco” in Spanish, “Ra-Ru-Rick, Barbatrick” in German, “Huub huub huub, Barbatruuk” in Dutch, “Hüpp Hüpp Hüpp, Barbatrükk” in Hungarian, “Hop hop hop, Değiş Tonton” in the Turkish version, “Resta di stucco, è un barbatrucco” in the Italian version, in Arabic “باربا الشاطر —أعظم ساحر “, in Hebrew “תיקיתיקוּץ, בַּרְבָּקוּנְץ”/”Tiki-tikutz, Barba-kuntz”, in Greek “Κλι κλι κόλπο, μπάρμπα κόλπο”/”kli kli kolpo, barba kolpo”, in Finnish Hik hik hikka, Barbakikka).

After various adventures, Barbapapa comes across a female of his species (more shapely, and black-coloured), named Barbamama. They produce four sons: Barbidur, a sports fan (red), Barbibul, a scientist (blue), Barbidou, a nature enthusiast (yellow) and Barbouille, a painter (black and furry), as well as three daughters: Barbalala, a musician (green), Barbabelle, a beauty queen (purple) and Barbotine, an intellectual (orange).

Barbapapa Songs

The first Barbapapa theme’s lyrics were written by Harry Geelen, and the music composed by Joop Stokkermans.

One of the several English-language versions had a musical theme composed by Edd Kalehoff. The Italian version’s song were sung by singer-songwriter Roberto Vecchioni.